Most Common Chinese Characters List
It’s often the most challenging part for Chinese learners that is mastering the Chinese characters. No matter its formation or memorizing methods, they are all different from other languages. Don’t be frustrated! As one of the most ancient and long-live characters system, Chinese characters have their combination logic. Only if you understand it, Chinese characters can be much more accessible. One of the most practical toolkits is analyzing each character as if you are playing the Lego game. Chinese characters are a combination of various character components. One of the key components is called Chinese radical, which is used to index Chinese characters. The radicals often indicate certain meanings of the characters. Therefore, it’s an efficient method to learn and memorize Chinese characters by radicals. Here is the daily used Chinese Characters List, which is categorized by frequently used radicals. You can also feel free to download both simplified and traditional Chinese characters list PDF versions.
400+ Most Common Chinese Characters List
“mouth” Radical: 口
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 口 | kǒu | mouth |
| 2 | 回 | huí | to whirl |
| 3 | 品 | pǐn | product |
| 4 | 唱 | chàng | to sing |
| 5 | 吗 | ma | yes or no question particle |
| 6 | 哈 | ha | breath out |
| 7 | 吧 | ba | let us (do something.) |
| 8 | 呢 | ne | what about? |
| 9 | 叫 | jiào | to call |
| 10 | 告 | gào | to tell |
| 11 | 吃 | chī | to eat |
| 12 | 吹 | chuī | to blow |
“speech” Radical: 讠
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 认 | rèn | to recognize |
| 14 | 识 | shí | to be aware |
| 15 | 课 | kè | lesson |
| 16 | 讨 | tǎo | to denounce |
| 17 | 论 | lùn | to discuss |
| 18 | 讲 | jiǎng | to talk |
| 19 | 说 | shuō | to speak |
| 20 | 谈 | tán | to talk |
| 21 | 让 | ràng | to let |
| 22 | 试 | shì | to try |
| 23 | 词 | cí | word |
| 24 | 诗 | shī | poem |
| 25 | 误 | wù | to miss; misunderstand |
“walk” Radical: 辶
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 达 | dá | to reach |
| 27 | 进 | jìn | to enter |
| 28 | 还 | hái / huán | still / to return |
| 29 | 远 | yuǎn | far |
| 30 | 迷 | mí | to get lost |
| 31 | 迫 | pò | to approach |
| 32 | 退 | tuì | to move back |
| 33 | 迟 | chí | to walk slowly |
| 34 | 迅 | xùn | fast |
| 35 | 返 | fǎn | to go back |
| 36 | 连 | lián | to link |
| 37 | 这 | zhè | this |
| 38 | 边 | biān | side |
| 39 | 运 | yùn | Transport |
| 40 | 送 | sòng | give away |
| 41 | 选 | xuǎn | select |
| 42 | 逃 | táo | escape |
| 43 | 通 | tōng | through |
| 44 | 遥 | yáo | remote |
“Ice” Radical: 冫
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 冰 | bīng | ice |
| 46 | 冷 | lěng | cold |
| 47 | 冬 | dōng | winter |
| 48 | 凉 | liáng | cool |
| 49 | 冻 | dòng | to freeze |
| 50 | 冽 | liè | very cold |
| 51 | 减 | jiǎn | to decrease |
| 52 | 准 | zhǔn | level, standard |
| 53 | 决 | jué | to decide |
| 54 | 净 | jìng | clean |
| 55 | 况 | kuàng | condition, situation |
“Water” Radical: 氵
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 汉 | hàn | Han nationality |
| 57 | 汗 | hàn | sweat |
| 58 | 泪 | lèi | tears |
| 59 | 海 | hǎi | sea |
| 60 | 江 | jiāng | River |
| 61 | 河 | hé | River |
| 62 | 湖 | hú | lake |
| 63 | 洗 | xǐ | to wash |
| 64 | 溪 | xī | Creek |
| 65 | 汤 | tāng | soup |
| 66 | 清 | qīng | clear |
| 67 | 法 | fǎ | law |
| 68 | 沙 | shā | sand |
| 69 | 沉 | chén | to sink |
| 70 | 汽 | qì | vapor |
| 71 | 泡 | pào | bubble |
| 72 | 活 | huó | to live |
| 73 | 浓 | nóng | concentrated |
| 74 | 淡 | dàn | light |
| 75 | 浇 | jiāo | Pouring |
| 76 | 浪 | làng | wave |
| 77 | 浴 | yù | bath |
| 78 | 深 | shēn | deep |
| 79 | 浅 | qiǎn | shallow |
| 80 | 渐 | jiàn | gradually |
| 81 | 温 | wēn | temperature |
| 82 | 游 | yóu | tour |
| 83 | 满 | mǎn | full |
| 84 | 演 | yǎn | to play, to act |
| 85 | 激 | jī | excite |
| 86 | 瀑 | bào / pù | rainstorm / waterfall |
“Water” Radical: 灬
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 点 | diǎn | point |
| 88 | 热 | rè | heat |
| 89 | 烈 | liè | strong |
| 90 | 然 | rán | Of course |
| 91 | 煎 | jiān | Fry |
| 92 | 熊 | xióng | Bear |
| 93 | 熟 | shú / shóu | familiar/ cooked |
| 94 | 燕 | yàn | Swallow |
| 95 | 煮 | zhǔ | to boil |
| 96 | 熬 | áo | boil |
| 97 | 焦 | jiāo | focal |
“Wood” Radical: 木
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | 本 | běn | basis, origin |
| 99 | 未 | wèi | not yet |
| 100 | 末 | mò | end |
| 101 | 术 | shù | Technique |
| 102 | 机 | jī | machine |
| 103 | 杀 | shā | kill |
| 104 | 权 | quán | right |
| 105 | 杂 | zá | miscellaneous |
| 106 | 朵 | duǒ | (measure word for flower) |
| 107 | 来 | lái | Come |
| 108 | 李 | lǐ | Lee, plum |
| 109 | 村 | cūn | village |
| 110 | 材 | cái | material |
| 111 | 果 | guǒ | fruit |
| 112 | 林 | lín | forest |
| 113 | 森 | sēn | forest |
| 114 | 松 | sōng | loose |
| 115 | 板 | bǎn | board |
| 116 | 枪 | qiāng | gun |
| 117 | 枝 | zhī | branch |
| 118 | 枫 | fēng | maple |
| 119 | 柳 | liǔ | willow |
| 120 | 枯 | kū | Withered |
| 121 | 根 | gēn | root |
| 122 | 格 | gé | grid |
| 123 | 桥 | qiáo | bridge |
| 124 | 桃 | táo | Peach |
| 125 | 柴 | chái | firewood |
| 126 | 桶 | tǒng | barrel |
| 127 | 棵 | kē | (measure word for tree) |
| 128 | 楼 | lóu | floor, building |
“Hand” Radical: 扌
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 129 | 打 | dǎ | hit |
| 130 | 扔 | rēng | throw |
| 131 | 扒 | bā | pull down, cling to |
| 132 | 拖 | tuō | drag |
| 133 | 托 | tuō | Care |
| 134 | 扫 | sǎo | sweep |
| 135 | 扣 | kòu | buckle |
| 136 | 抗 | kàng | anti- |
| 137 | 扛 | káng | Carry |
| 138 | 把 | bǎ | （grammar particle） |
| 139 | 抱 | bào | hold, hug |
| 140 | 报 | bào | Report |
| 141 | 找 | zhǎo | Find |
| 142 | 挤 | jǐ | squeeze |
| 143 | 技 | jì | Skill |
| 144 | 护 | hù | Protect |
| 145 | 投 | tóu | cast |
| 146 | 抓 | zhuā | Grab |
| 147 | 抢 | qiǎng | rob |
| 148 | 拉 | lā | Pull |
| 149 | 拦 | lán | bar, block, hinder |
| 150 | 指 | zhǐ | indicate |
| 151 | 换 | huàn | change |
| 152 | 接 | jiē | Pick up |
| 153 | 描 | miáo | Trace |
| 154 | 提 | tí | mention |
| 155 | 摇 | yáo | shake |
| 156 | 擦 | cā | rub |
“Grass” Radical: 艹
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 艺 | yì | art |
| 158 | 节 | jié | Section |
| 159 | 芒 | máng | mango |
| 160 | 花 | huā | flower, to spend |
| 161 | 草 | cǎo | grass |
| 162 | 芽 | yá | bud |
| 163 | 苦 | kǔ | bitter |
| 164 | 萍 | píng | （kind of grass) |
| 165 | 药 | yào | medicine |
| 166 | 茶 | chá | tea |
| 167 | 荡 | dàng | swing |
| 168 | 菜 | cài | dish |
| 169 | 落 | luò | drop |
| 170 | 薄 | báo / bó | thin / slight |
“Person” Radical: 亻
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 171 | 什 | shén | What |
| 172 | 化 | huà | Turn into |
| 173 | 仍 | réng | still |
| 174 | 仅 | jǐn | only |
| 175 | 仇 | chóu | hatred |
| 176 | 他 | tā | he |
| 177 | 们 | men | plural form |
| 178 | 代 | dài | generation |
| 179 | 仙 | xiān | Immortal |
| 180 | 件 | jiàn | Pieces |
| 181 | 价 | jià | price |
| 182 | 优 | yōu | excellent |
| 183 | 你 | nǐ | you |
| 184 | 但 | dàn | but |
| 185 | 住 | zhù | live |
| 186 | 位 | wèi | (measure word for person) |
| 187 | 低 | dī | low |
| 188 | 伴 | bàn | Companion |
| 189 | 使 | shǐ | to make, to let |
| 190 | 信 | xìn | letter |
| 191 | 便 | biàn / pián | so that, cheap |
| 192 | 保 | bǎo | Guarantee |
| 193 | 修 | xiū | repair |
| 194 | 俩 | liǎ | two, both |
| 195 | 倒 | dǎo / dào | fall/ pour |
| 196 | 借 | jiè | borrow |
| 197 | 做 | zuò | do |
| 198 | 假 | jiǎ / jià | fake/ vacation |
| 199 | 停 | tíng | stop |
| 200 | 偷 | tōu | steal |
| 201 | 偏 | piān | Partial, have had |
| 202 | 像 | xiàng | image |
| 203 | 僧 | sēng | monk |
“double person” Radical: 彳
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 204 | 行 | háng / xíng | Row/ walk, conduct |
| 205 | 彻 | chè | thorough |
| 206 | 往 | wǎng | to |
| 207 | 很 | hěn | very |
| 208 | 得 | de | （grammar particle） |
| 209 | 德 | dé | German, morals |
“Female” Radical: 女
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 210 | 妈 | mā | mom |
| 211 | 奶 | nǎi | milk； grandma |
| 212 | 她 | tā | she was |
| 213 | 好 | hǎo / hào | good/ like |
| 214 | 如 | rú | Such as |
| 215 | 妇 | fù | woman |
| 216 | 妖 | yāo | Demon |
| 217 | 姐 | jiě | elder sister |
| 218 | 妹 | mèi | younger sister |
| 219 | 始 | shǐ | beginning |
| 220 | 姓 | xìng | surname |
| 221 | 娃 | wá | baby |
| 222 | 娘 | niáng | mother |
| 223 | 婚 | hūn | marriage |
| 224 | 婆 | pó | grandma |
| 225 | 娶 | qǔ | Marry (man) |
| 226 | 婴 | yīng | infant |
| 227 | 嫁 | jià | marry (woman) |
“Insect” Radical: 虫
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 228 | 虹 | hóng | rainbow |
| 229 | 蚁 | yǐ | ant |
| 230 | 虾 | xiā | shrimp |
| 231 | 蛇 | shé | snake |
| 232 | 蝶 | dié | butterfly |
| 233 | 蟹 | xiè | crab |
| 234 | 蜂 | fēng | bee |
“Earth” Radical: 土
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 235 | 地 | dì / de | Ground/ grammar partical |
| 236 | 场 | cháng / chǎng | market, site, spot |
| 237 | 块 | kuài | Piece |
| 238 | 坚 | jiān | Firm |
| 239 | 坏 | huài | Bad |
| 240 | 址 | zhǐ | site |
| 241 | 城 | chéng | city |
| 242 | 塔 | tǎ | tower |
| 243 | 堆 | duī | stack |
| 244 | 墙 | qiáng | wall |
| 245 | 境 | jìng | territory |
| 246 | 增 | zēng | increase |
“Fire” Radical: 火
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 247 | 灯 | dēng | light |
| 248 | 灰 | huī | gray |
| 249 | 灾 | zāi | disaster |
| 250 | 灿 | càn | brilliant |
| 251 | 烂 | làn | rotten |
| 252 | 炉 | lú | furnace |
| 253 | 炎 | yán | inflammation |
| 254 | 炊 | chuī | Cooking |
| 255 | 炸 | zhá | Fried |
| 256 | 烟 | yān | smoke |
| 257 | 烦 | fán | bother |
| 258 | 烧 | shāo | burn |
| 259 | 烤 | kǎo | grilled |
| 260 | 烛 | zhú | candle |
| 261 | 爆 | bào | burst |
“Heart” Radical: 忄
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 262 | 忆 | yì | Recall |
| 263 | 忙 | máng | busy |
| 264 | 快 | kuài | fast |
| 265 | 慢 | màn | slow |
| 266 | 怀 | huái | Pregnant, miss |
| 267 | 性 | xìng | character, nature |
| 268 | 怕 | pà | afraid |
| 269 | 怪 | guài | strange |
| 270 | 怜 | lián | pity |
| 271 | 恨 | hèn | hate |
| 272 | 悄 | qiāo | quiet |
| 273 | 悔 | huǐ | regret |
| 274 | 悦 | yuè | Pleased |
| 275 | 情 | qíng | mood |
| 276 | 惊 | jīng | shock |
| 277 | 惜 | xī | Pity |
| 278 | 惯 | guàn | used |
| 279 | 惨 | cǎn | awful |
| 280 | 慌 | huāng | Panic |
| 281 | 愉 | yú | Enjoy |
| 282 | 懒 | lǎn | lazy |
| 283 | 懂 | dǒng | understand |
“Heart” Radical: 心
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 284 | 忍 | rěn | endure |
| 285 | 忘 | wàng | forget |
| 286 | 念 | niàn | Read |
| 287 | 忽 | hū | suddenly |
| 288 | 忠 | zhōng | Loyal |
| 289 | 怎 | zěn | How |
| 290 | 总 | zǒng | total |
| 291 | 思 | sī | think |
| 292 | 急 | jí | anxious |
| 293 | 怒 | nù | angry |
| 294 | 息 | xī | rest |
| 295 | 恶 | è | evil |
| 296 | 恐 | kǒng | fear |
| 297 | 恩 | ēn | favor |
| 298 | 恋 | liàn | love |
| 299 | 您 | nín | you (polite way) |
| 300 | 患 | huàn | Suffer |
| 301 | 悲 | bēi | sad |
| 302 | 想 | xiǎng | miss, think |
| 303 | 意 | yì | meaning |
| 304 | 感 | gǎn | sense |
| 305 | 愿 | yuàn | willing |
“Bamboo” Radical: ⺮
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 306 | 笑 | xiào | laugh |
| 307 | 第 | dì | prefix before a number |
| 308 | 笨 | bèn | stupid |
| 309 | 笛 | dí | flute |
| 310 | 等 | děng | Wait |
| 311 | 答 | dá | answer |
| 312 | 简 | jiǎn | simple |
| 313 | 算 | suàn | Count |
“Sun” Radical: 日
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 314 | 旧 | jiù | old |
| 315 | 旦 | dàn | Once |
| 316 | 早 | zǎo | early |
| 317 | 时 | shí | Time |
| 318 | 明 | míng | Bright |
| 319 | 易 | yì | easy |
| 320 | 是 | shì | Yes |
| 321 | 显 | xiǎn | display |
| 322 | 星 | xīng | star |
| 323 | 春 | chūn | spring |
| 324 | 昨 | zuó | Yesterday |
| 325 | 映 | yìng | Reflect |
| 326 | 晒 | shài | bask |
| 327 | 晚 | wǎn | late |
| 328 | 晨 | chén | morning |
| 329 | 景 | jǐng | view |
| 330 | 智 | zhì | wisdom |
| 331 | 晶 | jīng | crystal |
| 332 | 晚 | wǎn | late |
| 333 | 暗 | àn | dark |
| 334 | 暖 | nuǎn | warm |
“Eye” Radical: 目
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 335 | 盲 | máng | blind |
| 336 | 看 | kān / kàn | look after/ look, see |
| 337 | 相 | xiāng / xiàng | mutually, phase/ appearance |
| 338 | 省 | shěng | province |
| 339 | 眉 | méi | eyebrow |
| 340 | 盼 | pàn | Hope |
| 341 | 眨 | zhǎ | blink |
| 342 | 眼 | yǎn | eye |
| 343 | 睡 | shuì | sleep |
| 344 | 瞎 | xiā | blind |
“Meat” Radical: 月
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 345 | 有 | yǒu | Have |
| 346 | 肌 | jī | muscle |
| 347 | 肚 | dù | belly |
| 348 | 朋 | péng | Friend |
| 349 | 肩 | jiān | shoulder |
| 350 | 肥 | féi | fat |
| 351 | 肤 | fū | skin |
| 352 | 肿 | zhǒng | swollen |
| 353 | 肺 | fèi | lung |
| 354 | 肾 | shèn | kidney |
| 355 | 背 | bēi / bèi | carry on the back/ body’s back, unlucky |
| 356 | 胜 | shèng | Win |
| 357 | 胆 | dǎn | Gall |
| 358 | 胖 | pàng | fat |
| 359 | 胃 | wèi | stomach |
| 360 | 脑 | nǎo | brain |
| 361 | 胸 | xiōng | chest |
| 362 | 脏 | zāng | dirty |
| 363 | 朗 | lǎng | bright |
| 364 | 脂 | zhī | fat |
| 365 | 脚 | jiǎo | foot |
| 366 | 脸 | liǎn | face |
| 367 | 脱 | tuō | Take off |
| 368 | 脖 | bó | neck |
| 369 | 朝 | cháo / zhāo | towards/ early morning |
| 370 | 腰 | yāo | waist |
| 371 | 腿 | tuǐ | leg |
| 372 | 腹 | fù | belly |
| 373 | 臂 | bì | arm |
“Mountain” Radical: 山
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 374 | 岁 | suì | year old |
| 375 | 岛 | dǎo | island |
| 376 | 岸 | àn | shore |
| 377 | 岩 | yán | rock |
| 378 | 峡 | xiá | gorge |
| 379 | 峰 | fēng | peak |
“Ear” Radical: 阝
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 380 | 队 | duì | team |
| 381 | 那 | nà | that |
| 382 | 阳 | yáng | Yang |
| 383 | 阵 | zhèn | Array |
| 384 | 阴 | yīn | Overcast |
| 385 | 院 | yuàn | hospital |
| 386 | 除 | chú | except |
| 387 | 险 | xiǎn | risk |
| 388 | 都 | dōu / dū | All/ city |
| 389 | 部 | bù | unit |
| 390 | 陪 | péi | accompany |
| 391 | 随 | suí | Follow |
| 392 | 隔 | gé | Every |
“Iron” Radical: 钅
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 393 | 针 | zhēn | needle |
| 394 | 钓 | diào | to fish |
| 395 | 钟 | zhōng | bell |
| 396 | 钢 | gāng | steel |
| 397 | 钱 | qián | money |
| 398 | 铁 | tiě | iron |
| 399 | 钻 | zuān / zuàn | Drill/ diamond, auger |
| 400 | 银 | yín | silver |
| 401 | 铜 | tóng | copper |
| 402 | 锅 | guō | pot |
| 403 | 锐 | ruì | sharp |
| 404 | 锁 | suǒ | lock |
| 405 | 锈 | xiù | rust |
| 406 | 错 | cuò | wrong |
| 407 | 键 | jiàn | key |
“Animal” Radical: 犭
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 408 | 犯 | fàn | Commit |
| 409 | 狂 | kuáng | mad |
| 410 | 狗 | gǒu | dog |
| 411 | 狐 | hú | fox |
| 412 | 独 | dú | alone |
| 413 | 狠 | hěn | ruthless |
| 414 | 狮 | shī | lion |
| 415 | 狼 | láng | Wolf |
| 416 | 猴 | hóu | monkey |
| 417 | 猫 | māo | Cat |
“Top” Radical: 穴
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 418 | 穷 | qióng | poor |
| 419 | 空 | kōng / kòng | air, empty, blank/ free time |
| 420 | 突 | tū | Sudden |
| 421 | 穿 | chuān | wear |
| 422 | 窃 | qiè | steal |
| 423 | 窄 | zhǎi | narrow |
| 424 | 窗 | chuāng | window |
“Bow” Radical: 弓
| No. | Characters | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 425 | 弓 | gōng | bow |
| 426 | 引 | yǐn | to stretch |
| 427 | 弘 | hóng | great, vast |
| 428 | 弜 | jiàng | stiff, strong |
| 429 | 弱 | ruò | weak |
| 430 | 弦 | xián | bowstring |
| 431 | 弢 | tāo | bow case |
| 432 | 弩 | nǔ | crossbow |
| 433 | 张 | zhāng | to expand |
| 434 | 第 | dì | a prefic for ordinal numbers |
| 435 | 弟 | dì | younger brother |
| 436 | 递 | dì | to hand over |
3500 Commonly Used Modern Chinese Characters List
It’s always a big shock for the learners who know that there are more than 85,568 Chinese characters in the world for the first time. Don’t give up immediately. According to the official research of China Education Committee, there are only 3500 commonly used modern Chinese characters, which cover about 99.48% words and characters that you could read in daily life. And you can read around 97.97% of modern everyday Chinese if you know about 2500 characters out of the 3500 characters. To make your study more convenient, we provide you the 3500 commonly used Chinese characters list as following.